ENCLOSURE VENTILATION FILTER AND ASSEMBLY METHOD

• US 20090247970A1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donaldson Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Donaldson Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Elsayed, Yehya A., Hebert, Michael J., Mulder, David W., Kalayci, Veli E., Dallas, Andrew J., Keleny, Lloyd G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,979,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/333
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/44 Devices worn by the patient for reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge; Portable urination aidsabsorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, A61F13/15; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00; emptying devices for urine bags B65B69/0016; Colostomy devices adhesives for colostomy devices A61L24/00; materials for colostomy devices A61L28/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/4405 Valves or valve arrangements specially adapted therefor A61F5/441 takes precedence; Fluid inlets or outlets A61F5/4407 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/441 having venting or deodorant means, e.g. filters ; having antiseptic means, e.g. bacterial barriers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/445 Colostomy, ileostomy or urethrostomy devices A61F5/441, A61F5/442, A61F5/443 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/025 comprising nanofibres apparatus incorporating such gas filtering material see B01D46/546
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0407 comprising particulate additives, e.g. adsorbents apparatus incorporating gas filtering material B01D46/0036
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0414 Surface modifiers, e.g. comprising ion exchange groups
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/045 Deodorising additives
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0464 Impregnants
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0478 on a layer of the filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0485 on particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0618 Non-woven
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0622 Melt-blown
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0631 Electro-spun
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/065 More than one layer present in the filtering material apparatus incorporating such gas filtering material B01D2275/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0654 Support layers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0668 The layers being joined by heat or melt-bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0672 The layers being joined by welding
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0681 The layers being joined by gluing
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/1291 Other parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/1692 : Other shaped material, e.g. perforated or porous sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0036 : by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/02 : Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, having hollow filters made of flexible material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/01 : Ventilation or drainage of bags
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/32 : with means for venting
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/16 : with means for venting air or gas
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1616 : by means of a filter

Abstract

A filter assembly for an enclosure, particularly for an ostomy bag, is described having an enclosure side, a first layer which is gas permeable, and an adsorbent layer comprising adsorbent particles dispersed in a fine fiber web. The enclosure side of the filter assembly includes an adhesive zone in which adhesive is present having an outer adhesive perimeter and a weld area surrounding at least a portion of the adhesive zone, where the filter assembly is heat-sealable to the enclosure at the weld area. A method of assembly is also described.

Claims

1. A filter assembly for an enclosure, comprising:

an enclosure side and an outer side opposite from the enclosure side;

a first layer which is gas permeable; and

an adsorbent layer comprising adsorbent particles dispersed in a fine fiber web;

wherein the enclosure side of the filter assembly comprises;

an adhesive zone in which adhesive is present having an outer adhesive perimeter;

a weld area surrounding at least a portion of the adhesive zone, where the filter assembly is heat-sealable to the enclosure at the weld area.

2. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the adhesive zone has an inner adhesive perimeter that defines an exit window portion that is completely surrounded by the adhesive zone.

3. The filter assembly of claim 2, wherein the weld area completely surrounds the adhesive zone.

4. The filter assembly of claim 3, wherein the first layer is sealed to the enclosure at the weld area.

5. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first layer is microporous.

6. The filter assembly of claim 4, wherein the enclosure is a flexible bag comprising plastic.

7. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

8. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first layer is liquid impermeable.

9. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the activated carbon and fine fiber matrix layer is substantially free of binder material

10. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter assembly is configured for axial flow of gases.

11. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter assembly is configured for lateral flow of gases.

12. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the adsorbent layer has a thickness of 0.01 to 10 mm.

13. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the adsorbent layer comprises about 1 to 30 weight percent fine fiber having a fiber diameter of about 0.001 to 5 micron and 70 to 99 weight percent adsorbent particles.

14. The filter assembly of claim 1, where the first layer comprises expanded PTFE.

15. The filter assembly of claim 13, where the first layer comprises a laminate of expanded PTFE and a scrim layer.

16. The filter of claim 1 further comprising a second layer that is gas permeable, wherein the adsorbent layer is sandwiched between the first layer and the second layer.

17. The filter assembly of claim 16, wherein the second layer is liquid impermeable.

18. An ostomy filter for an ostomy bag, comprising:

a bag side and an outer side opposite from the bag side;

a first layer which is gas permeable and liquid impermeable; and

an adsorbent layer of adsorbent particles dispersed in a fine fiber web;

wherein the bag side of the ostomy filter comprises;

an adhesive zone in which adhesive is present, the adhesive zone having an outer adhesive perimeter and an inner adhesive perimeter, wherein the inner adhesive perimeter surrounds an exit opening; and

a weld area surrounding the adhesive zone, where the filter assembly is heat-sealable to the enclosure bag at the weld area.

19. The ostomy filter of claim 18 further comprising a second layer that is gas permeable, wherein the adsorbent layer is sandwiched between the first layer and the second layer.

20. A method for attaching a filter assembly to an enclosure over a vent opening in the enclosure comprising:

providing an enclosure bag, comprising a vent opening;

providing a filter assembly on a release liner, the filter assembly having a bag side and an outer side opposite from the bag side, where the bag side of the filter comprises;

an adhesive zone in which adhesive is present having an outer adhesive perimeter;

a weld area surrounding at least a portion of the adhesive zone, where the filter assembly is heat-sealable to the enclosure bag at the weld area;

removing the filter assembly from the release liner to reveal the adhesive zone;

placing the filter assembly on the enclosure bag over the vent opening; and

after placing the filter on the enclosure bag, forming a seal between the filter assembly and the enclosure bag.